Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-06
AT THE CAPITAL.
THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS- READY
FOR BUSINESS.
Scenes at the Opening-Hilarit in
the House-FlOrai Favors-Car-
Isle Chosen Speaker.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REooaD-uN1ov. !

Tcopyigt, 1857. by Ge California issociatea Press
WASHINGTON, December 5th.-The gala
ries were crowded with spectators the
lower floors packed with legislators here
ana there desk adorned with bouquets
and baskets of flowers; new carpets and
upholstery in both chambers the buzz of
thousands of voices; the subdued clamor
OF people vainly striving to gain the places
filled by more fortunate people; the click
OF a gavel, a sudden hush prayer-and
the fiftieth Congress is assembled.
Two brand-new American flags, lifted to
the heads OF stats over the Senate and
House. tiuttered in the northerlY breeze, as
the clocks in both chambers marked the
hour of noon. In the House gallery a
crank-away down III front, beyond the
reach of the doorkeepers-arose and sang
the Doxology in a baritone voice, Just as
Clerk Clark was about to call the three
hundred and twenty-five jolly, noisy, good
natured Representatives to order. The
volunteer chorister had Just finished when
a stalwart official hustled him out.
THE FAIR SEX ON HAND.
Mrs. Carlisle, wife of the ex-Speaker,
with party of friends occupied the front
row in the Members gallery. She had
come to the Capital to see her husband in
stalled in the office of Speaker. Wives,
sisters and female relatives and friends of
Representatives crowded, pushed and ell
bowed TO get glimpse of the scenes that
were soon to occur within. More of the
tickets Of admission had been issued to
persons entitled to seats in the reserved
galleries than they could accommodate, and
the steps in the aisles were filed. The un-
fDr toc 10 IL -
and crowded the others so that it was a
tiresome and muscular labor to force ones
way through. The floor of the House was
packed with members and ex-members,
and also the friends of both.
SOME OF THE FLORAL DECORATIONS.
There were bouquets upon the desks CT
members, but all were overshadoWed by a
floral horseshoe six feet high, sent to Tim
Campbell of New York by the Oriental
Club, of which he is a member and patron.
There was no place to put this immense
floral piece where it could properly be ad-
mired, except in the space before the
Speakers desk, and there it was planted
and there I" Our Tim," as the New Workers
call him, seated himself and received as
many congratulations as looks of admir-
alton were given the tribute of the Oriental
Club.
EVERYBODY IN GOOD HUMoR.
On the Speakers desk was modest
basket of flowers, and some devoted Irish
supporter of Randall had placed on his
desk harp of green smilax, which evi-
dently tickled the Pennsylvania Protection
list.
The members exchanged congratulations,
told stories, shook hands with old and new
acquaintance and generally enjoyed them
selves until the Clerks gavel admonished
them that the time for business had ar
rived. Prayer was offered by Dr. Milburn,
the roll of members occurred, and
nominations for Speaker were made.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.
Carlisle was elected, and a committee
consisting of Reed and Cox was appointed
to escort him to the Chair Reed is feet
tall, and Cox 5. The former weighs go
pounds, and the latter 125, and as the two
gentlemen shook hands on the way out of
the chamber to get Carlisle they were
greeted with roars of laughter and ap-
plause. The contrast between the two men
was so great as to excite amusement. When
Carlisle was escorted into the chamber
there was loud applause from each side.
He walked to his desk with a small
Morocco-covered Bible in his hand, and the
Clerk announced that the oath would be
administered by Judge Kelley, of Pennsyl-
vania, the Oldest member in point of sery-
ice in the House. Kelley read the oath in
a most impressive manner, and Carlisle
kissed the book.
CARLISLE's S SURPRISE.
Carlisle's speech of thanks for the honor
paid him was something of surprise to
his listeners. lie waded into the tariff at the
start, but told his audience that he did not
expect the passage of any extreme measure
of revenue reduction, nor did he desire it,
but believed it to be the duty of Congress
to pass moderate bill that would revise
the tariff and reduce the revenue without
disturbing the financial or industrial in
terests.
After sweating in the members, and after
the election of the subordinate officers
agreed upon by the Democratic caucus on
Saturday night, a dissolution was agreed to
for the immediate selection of seats to be
occupied by Representatives during the
next two years.
DRAWING PRIZE SEATS.
Biggs was the first Californian to be
called when the distribution OF seats was in
progress. and he chose a seat in the first
row, On the right of the main aisle, the
Democratic side, directly facing the
Speaker. Vandever was the next in luck,
and he got a seat in the front row facing
the Speaker, but on the Republican side.
FELTON, was one of the fortunate ones, also
and he chose the seat occupied by him in
the last Congress, alongside that of his
friend Congressman Bingham, of Pennsyl-
vania. Thompson, McKenna and Morrow
were among the last to get seats, and they
Jared badly. Thompson is on the extreme
of the last row back, on the Democratic
side, and McKenna and Morrow are only
one seat apart on the extreme left of the
Speaker. Some of the best members Jared
the worst in the choice of seats.
ON THE SENATE SIDE.
There were the same crowds in the SEN
ate as in the House at the opening of the
session, and even more bouquets. Stewart,
Daniel, Voorhees,, Beck, Goettman, Black
burn. Riddleberger, Mitchell, Pratt, Pal
mer, Davis, Cullum and Manderson each
were remembered with baskets of flowers
in variety of designs.
The galleries were crowded, and the
strangers present were treated to a sight of
Mrs. Cleveland, who occupied seat in the
Executive gallery, especially reserved for
the Presidents family. She was accom-
panied by Mrs. Folsom, Miss Kingsford.
Miss Severance and Mrs. Glider, of New
York, and her two little boys, and Mrs.
Lamont.
The Presidents wife was attired in an
olive-green, tailor-made suit, and her
beauty was in contrast with the other oc-
cupants of the Executive gallery. In the
diplomatic box were the German, Spanish.
French, japanese and Chinese Ministers.
Sir Joseph Chamberlain and Sir Charles
Tupper, and bevy of legation ladies.
SENATOR HEARST DIsAPPoINTs THE CROWD.
Senator Stanford escorted Senator Hearst
to the Presidents desk, and stood by him
while the oath was administered. Califor-
MAS junior Senator subscribed to the Con-
sdtution of the United States without a
tremor, and seemed mighty glad TO have
the business over with He was dressed in
black diagonal Prince Albert coat and
vest, with trousers of dark material, and
neatly-polished shoes. Those who expected
to see the new Senator enter the chamber
wrapped in Mexican blanket and wearing
high boots, with jingling spurs. were disap.